GENTRY — Visitors from across the state of Arkansas converged on Gentry for a two-day conference hosted by Winrock International, the USDA, the city of Gentry and the Gentry Chamber of Commerce.

The "NonProfit Improvement Program CapacityBuilding Tour" is a federallyfunded program that provides outreach education to small rural communities, using classes and tours for training.

Bev Saunders, Gentry Chamber of Commerce director, served as the director of the Gentry tour and events.

VISITORS

The program began at the Gentry Library with pizza from Pioneer Pizza and a tour of the library, as well as a program by Mayor Kevin Johnston and City Clerk Jo Ellen Martin explaining how the funding was obtained for the renovation of the building.

On July 17th, the group attended a Fun Park and Trails grants program presented by Brenda Rowell of the Arkansas Parks and Tourism. The group then toured the Gentry Park, the new nature park area, the AEP/SWEPCO boat dock, Eagle Watch and the Gentry Chamber of Commerce building. The day ended with a meal at the Wooden Spoon with Gentry city aldermen, Gentry Chamber members and tour guides - including Janie Parks and Janice Arnold - and a Heritage Trail and history program by Rick Parker.

On Wednesday, July 18th, the group was given a tour of the Wild Wilderness Safari and then traveled to the Little Debbie Company Store where Jim Twiggs talked about Gentry's history, the history of McKee Foods in Gentry, and the zero landfill program for which the Gentry McKee Foods’ facility was recently honored.

The group then went back to the Gentry Library for sandwiches from Pioneer Pizza and a wrap up at which they were asked how they felt about the city after the tour.

Some of the comments included: "Gentry is a very clean town," "We can really feel the community pride of this town through its residents," "The Wild Wilderness Safari is the best kept secret in Arkansas," "This was an extremely enjoyable tour," "The Mayor should be commended for the work and efforts of the citizens of the town and how well the Chamber and the city work together," and "I would like to live in Gentry."

News, Pages 1 on 08/01/2012